1. Print out cutting pattern, check the measurements and, if necessary, enlarge or reduce to the exact size on the copier.
2. Transfer the black outline onto a piece of pattern paper. Complete the bag pouch at the line ends as required. Bag shapes can vary in size as you wish, make them as long, thin, straight or curved as desired.
3. Now transfer the bag pattern onto the lining fabric twice and onto the outer fabric twice. Layout has a 1 cm seam allowance all round.
4. Cut out all four bag pattern pieces.
5. Add decoration to the bag as desired. I have used a sparkly fabric for the front of the bag and added detail with silk butterfly shapes, buttons and hand stitch. Do any embellishment to the bag before stitching it together. Butterflies were cut from the silk fabric and attached to a stiffer fabric so that they would be more rigid. I added French knots, hand stitch and buttons to the centre of the butterflies.
6. Use the sewing machine to stitch around the bottom of each of the bag pouches, the part for the bag fastening remains open.
7. Turn the bag pouch made from the outer fabric inside out and insert it into the lining fabric pouch, then stitch the upper edges together. Leave a small gap of approx. 8 cm for stitching and turning the bag pouch. This will be hand-stitched closed after stitching and turning.
8. Once the bag edges are trimmed, they are pushed accurately into the bag fastening and sewn through the upper fastening perforation. To ensure a firm hold, the use of buttonhole silk is recommended: using a colour which matches the fabric makes the seam virtually invisible.
9. Finish bag with ribbon bow and decorative chain or handle. |